fag

1
[ fag ]
See synonyms for fag on Thesaurus.com
nounSlang.
  1. Extremely Disparaging and Offensive. a contemptuous term used to refer to a gay man.

  2. Offensive. a contemptible or dislikable person.

Origin of fag

1
An Americanism dating back to 1920–25; by shortening of faggot1

usage alert For fag

The terms fag and faggot are both used with disparaging intent and are perceived as highly insulting. However, faggot (but not fag ) is sometimes used within the gay community as a positive term of self-reference.

Other words from fag

  • fag·gish, adjective

Words Nearby fag

Other definitions for fag (2 of 2)

fag2
[ fag ]

verb (used with object),fagged, fag·ging.
  1. to tire or weary by labor; exhaust (often followed by out): The long climb fagged us out.

  2. British. to require (a younger public-school pupil) to do menial chores.

  1. Nautical. to fray or unlay the end of (a rope).

verb (used without object),fagged, fag·ging.
  1. Chiefly British. to work until wearied; work hard: to fag away at French.

  2. British Informal. to do menial chores for an older public-school pupil.

noun
  1. Slang. a cigarette.

  2. a fag end, as of cloth.

  1. a rough or defective spot in a woven fabric; blemish; flaw.

  2. Chiefly British. drudgery; toil.

  3. British Informal. a younger pupil in a British public school required to perform certain menial tasks for, and submit to the hazing of, an older pupil.

  4. a drudge.

Origin of fag

2
First recorded in 1425–75; late Middle English fag(ge) “broken thread in cloth, a knot (in cloth), loose end” (further origin obscure); sense development apparently: “drooping end” to “droop, tire” to “make weary” to “drudgery, drudge” (compare flag1 to flag3); (def. 6) a shortening of fag end (“a butt,” hence a cigarette)

Other words from fag

  • un·fagged, adjective

Dictionary.com Unabridged Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2024

How to use fag in a sentence

  • Again it is fag-pie Sunday, from another refection sacred to it in the same county, namely a pie of figs and spices.

  • fag Alley was reached and in its vicinity several machine guns were captured, and the teams either killed or taken prisoners.

    The Story of the "9th King's" in France | Enos Herbert Glynne Roberts
  • "fag wanted," Sinclair murmured, hardly looking up from his imposition.

    Sonia Between two Worlds | Stephen McKenna
  • fag, a schoolboy who performs a servants offices to a superior schoolmate.

    The Slang Dictionary | John Camden Hotten
  • Lucy returned to the stage for her scenes in the second act (the last in which she appears) with Sir Lucius and fag.

    No Name | Wilkie Collins

British Dictionary definitions for fag (1 of 3)

fag1

/ (fæɡ) /


noun
  1. informal a boring or wearisome task: it's a fag having to walk all that way

  2. British (esp formerly) a young public school boy who performs menial chores for an older boy or prefect

verbfags, fagging or fagged
  1. (when tr, often foll by out) informal to become or cause to become exhausted by hard toil or work

  2. (usually intr) British to do or cause to do menial chores in a public school: Brown fags for Lee

Origin of fag

1
C18: of obscure origin

British Dictionary definitions for fag (2 of 3)

fag2

/ (fæɡ) /


noun
  1. British a slang word for cigarette

  2. a fag end, as of cloth

Origin of fag

2
C16 (in the sense: something hanging loose, flap): of obscure origin

British Dictionary definitions for fag (3 of 3)

fag3

/ (fæɡ) /


noun
  1. slang, mainly US and Canadian short for faggot 2

Collins English Dictionary - Complete & Unabridged 2012 Digital Edition © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012